How much concrete is really in Sakcrete? How did they get a monoply on such a crumm(bly) product?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Traditional lime wash still has tons of useful applications.
Featured Video
How to Install Cable Rail Around Wood-Post CornersHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
Only as little as FDA regulations require <g>
Technically, concrete "cements" from the chemical reaction of water with portland cement within the mix. This binds the aggregate into a solid material.
It is possible for water vapor to permeate the paper sacking the material is stored in, and then "react" the portland in varying amounts. (This is not helped any if the, ah, er, for want a of a better term, "employees" bother to keep the sacks out of the rain in the first place.)
Now, not all bagged mixes are bad. Like most things, the details matter.
If I have to mix up a bunch of sack concrete in a mixer I usually add a tad of cement to their blend. Do you see any difficulties arise from doing this?
No
If you add cement, it gets a little more brittle. Whether this is a problem or not depends on the application.George Patterson
If you add cement, it gets a little more brittle
HUH? please explain.
what I notice about the bagged mix is, the rocks are too small. That where the strength is. cement low, alot of sand and the rocks are too small..Haga su trabajo de fricken
Portland cement is more brittle than sand and aggregate. Add more to the mix, it gets more brittle.George Patterson
do what? brittle?
yes you can add portland and yes you will get a better mix...
the less water you use... will be a better mix...
i'm sure they have some type quality control on bagged product but i'm sure you will get a bad bag here & there...
i keep a 22ton pile of rock and of sand and think i still have 60,000lb of white portland... and make my own mix as needed.... BUT even with just about zero invested in the portland,,, just the cost of the sand & rock delivered isn't far off from the cost of truck delivered readymix... but for posts, countertops, and castings... less than 1yd at a time... (think my mixer is 6cf... one full bobcat bucket whatever that is) it pays for me to have it here... and i can custom mix for each project...
btw... i have never been happy with any bagged mix.... and the U-Cart stuff around here 1.25yd trailer... is pretty good... if you get the rock mix and not the pea mix... think it's about $125 per 1.25yds.... there is a new guy here with a mini mixer... looks like 3yds? haven't used him yet... but can see where i could
p
Really I can get a ton of crusher run at cement plant for $7 and a couple bags of portland and can make a whole lotta bags of cheaper and better crete. Thier mortar mix has such large fines u cant tool the joint hardly.
Crusher run is what?
Local guy here has a cretecrusher that grinds up sidewalk/roadway debri and sells as fill if you don't mind a bit of metal/rebar in the mix ever now and then.
Was wondering uses of such could be?
i get really good sand because i cast alot and all the portland i have is white... so using fine white (golf course) sand gives me a few more options... i pay $12 a ton ( i think) with a 22ton load ... I think i order a # 8 rock... about ... forget the name but it's a light grey jagged rock thats under 1/2" (again costs more but keeps my options open and it's alot better than pea) think thats about $16ton... with a 5 sack mix... @$14 ea (i think thats current price) it'd be hard to make your own for less than delivered price from a plant... even with what i think is my "too cool set up" it still takes time...
"too cool set up" i fab'd a steel funnel/scoop type bucket that attaches to my bobcat bucket.. my rock pile is to the left ... sand to the right... bobcat between... with 5gal buckets we fill the scoop bucket in layers rock sand portland with 5 gal buckets... less than 5 min operation... spin bobcat around go 30ft to running gas powered mixer barrel face'n open end almost up... fab'd funnel/scoop fits mixer opening.... while dumping mix into mixer it's being sprayed with water (about 1gal is already in mixer) once all in and scoop is washed out... the bobcat is backed up 10 ft... mixer is put into mix mode... about 5 min of mixing and product is dumped back into waiting bobcat scoop/bucket... (with no forethought "dumb luck" on my part somehow i built the scoop to just hold the full batch that can be mixed in my mixer) I then transport the mix to where it's needed... whole process takes maybe 15min... i think we are make'n about 1/4-1/5yd about 1000lbs wet.... still thats an hour to make a yard... i can do it alone but helps to have 2 when loading the scoop and when dumping&wetting into the mixer... if the project calls for more than 1/2yd someone has to be place'n and finish'n while someone else is mix'n... or you can get behind real quick...
i love my concrete... and really enjoy make'n it and casting it... but even with my almost free portland... i can't make a yard much cheaper than buy'n it... when you get to 2-3yards... not worth try'n
p
Knew a guy who went to cement plant and got wet yard in back of pickup and drove(most) of it to site draggin his bumper i bet.And this anit kansas toto..this is wv.
Yep anything over a yard bring it on.
>> Only as little as FDA regulations require <g> <<
Sounds like you are pretty knowledgable on the stuff... How does it taste? ;-) A little gritty?
Sounds like you are pretty knowledgable on the stuff... How does it taste? ;-) A little gritty?
About like how it smells (and not at all like chicken--more like owl).
Actually, I was refering to the fact that I'm not aware of any agency that regulates what is in 'crete-in-a-sack. The supplier can quote ASTM or the like, but, I'm not sure who you gripe to if the ingredients in the bag are not what is within.
Add in the care and consideration (and all-inclusive knowledge) of big box employees . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
The best sack crete I ever used was called eager beaver if I recall right. It had a separate plastic pouch in it with the cement in it. Mixed up just like the real thing. Can't find it here though. To bad, it was a great product in So Cal.
Edited 9/1/2007 4:40 pm ET by popawheelie
My mason supply has Sakrete products that are professional grade and are VERY good.
Sand mix
Mortar mix
3000 and 5000 lb concrete.
Don't confuse HD/Lowes Quickrete with Sakrete.
Two different animals.
[email protected]
"My mason supply has Sakrete products that are professional grade and are VERY good.Sand mixMortar mix3000 and 5000 lb concrete.Don't confuse HD/Lowes Quickrete with Sakrete."Actually Quikrete has a number of profession products including 3000 lb BAGS."BULK PRODUCTS (3000 LB. SUPER SACKS)"http://www.quikrete.com/ProductLines/Products-Bulk.aspAnd here are a few of the "professional" lines."DIVISION 3 - CONCRETE
03 01 00 - Maintenance of Concrete
FastSetâ„¢ Concrete Mix (No. 1004-51)
FastSetâ„¢ DOT Mix (No. 1244-56, 1244-81-extended)
FastSetâ„¢ Repair Mortar (No. 1241-60)
Concrete Resurfacer (No. 1131-40)
Concrete Sealer (No. 8800)
Hydraulic Water-Stop Cement (No. 1126)
Quick-Setting Cement (No. 1240)
Rapid Road Repair¯ (No. 1242)
Sand/Topping Mix (No. 1103)
Vinyl Concrete Patcher (No. 1132-white, No. 1133-gray)"http://www.quikrete.com/ProductLines/Products-Professional.aspThat is just a small sample of what is on that page.And Lowes has several different products from that page..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Thanks for that info.
My statement on the "junk" is based on my use of Quickrete Sand mix and mortars which seem to contain process fines as well as or as a total replacement for sand.
Total garbage in my opinion. Maybe it is a "special" product made for HD.[email protected]
Well, first off, it's all concrete. Looking at the ingredients list, that's what it takes to make concrete, and you won't get better out of a truck.
Secondly, they do have competition. First off, there's your local concrete supplier with his truck. Secondly, take a look at Lowes versus Home Depot. They carry different manufacturers of pre-packaged redi-mix concrete.